Heraclitus was pre-Aristotelian and his book on change represents one of the oldest extant books. The topic of the book--change. Change is an old topic. As long as there have been intelligent men and women, I suspect, and there is much to support the conjecture, there has been interest in change, what constitutes change (perhaps opposed to simple variation), how are humans impacted, what change can we change and what must we learn to simply live with as a reality or possibility. The famous prayer seeking divine guidance to know the difference between what we can change and what we cannot reflects a challenge for all. When should accept, when should we seek to influence and alter the course of some relationship, organization, community, selves. The old debate pitting nature or nurture and the theologians discoursing on predestination, determinism, free will all touch the topic of change and unalterable events. The idea of standing around watching life as if it were a documentary we are viewing as opposed to jumping in to life and making the story or at least part of the story is an ongoing challenge as to when, if, ever, how.

Change is seen by many as a process, dynamic, subject to human influence, without clear beginning or ends, ongoing, and by others as if it were written in the stars and we simply playing out our destinies and roles. The concepts of justice seem to presuppose that we have choices and must face the consequences of our choices and that we can't ultimately and exclusively blame forces of genetics, neighborhood, ad infinitum for our actions. We confront choice, make a decision, act, and produce change. The truth is a likely creative tension between both views. Nature and nurture make a difference. Some things are givens, some elected. We are by that view an admixture of determined and determining.

Regardless of the template from which change assumptions are brought to the discussion, change, while an old topic is more important than ever before in human history. The pace, scope, complexity, volume has never pushed human or other creatures to adapt in such a high pressured fashion.

A systems approach asserts that once we abstract any part of the total system environment (universe) into a sub-system that sub-system has a permeable boundary, new inputs are occurring across the sub-system boundary, transformations are occurring within the sub-system and outputs made back into the environment are different than they otherwise might have been. Modern science has established that even seemingly small inputs can have substantial effect on outcomes.

Within the range of freedom we exercise, assuming we are not puppets, any influence we exert makes a difference. Some may make more difference or less than we anticipate but they do make a difference, My view is that the question is not whether we make a difference in the world but what difference do we make.

(I don't have to tell you readers that this blog is to date unedited and represents a rough draft near stream of consciousness. The organization, syntax, word choice, ideas, all that constitutes finish draft writing has yet to be done, I invite input but don't really expect you to do the work and promise I will polish and make more coherent and read worthy as time goes and life permits. I will be exemplifying all aspects of the writing with concrete stories and situations that will both heighten potential interest and understanding but certainly enjoyment for a reader.)

I have always been interested in the process of change and how it is conceptualized. I am going to start adding to this blog by addressing the subject of change and explore facets that have become residual messages for me. I have told thousands of students and others in a variety of audiences that most of what we read and hear, certainly from me, will not be retained in detail if at all. However, some important ideas may stick and become a part of our world view. I am not naive enough to think my ideas are world changing because I say or write them but that I speak and write of them because they are potentially life changing and come from many sources. One of the hazards of an education is that once we internalize a message as true, it has consequences for our behavior. If we want no change we need to close up our minds and heart. Even when repective, some of the changes may not be as good as we hoped but there is no chance for growth or affirmative transformation without new ideas acted upon. Let's proceed and see if any of the residue kept as author and readers of the following might be powerful in our living.

In October of this year, 2009, one of my daughters, Crescent, was diagnosed with breast cancer. The subsequent testing, waiting, and surgery she has endured with grace and courage have inspired me but also deterred me from thinking about writing. Thanksgiving was a special one for me and my family as the staging, surgery, and apparent good outcomes have been positive. Subsequent treatment will definitely entail radiation but the discernment about whether the radiation will be preceded by chemo has yet to be made. December 15, is the current date for that chemo decision.

The weeks recently preceding this post have given me more insight into my own convictions and world view. I have been altered by the experience. Some confirmations of personal positions held entering entering the most immediate storm and some subsequent reformulations or outright rejection of deficiencies have been warranted.

Following a brief but I hope thoughtful time, I want to relate particularly the views that have seemed to be helpful to me during the recent experience and sketch some new perspectives gained about and from self and others. If you, a reader, find any merit for yourself, I would be pleased.